The next day, Leni woke up fully rested, brimming with energy, and most importantly, without the headache that had been troubling her the previous day. Slowly, she got out of her comfortable bed, located in her own room. Their house was spacious enough for each family member to have their own private space, which Leni greatly appreciated. Her room looked like a small library – walls lined with neatly arranged shelves of books, and her desk covered with carefully organized notes and bookmarks. Everything had its place, and the order in her room perfectly reflected Leni's love for organization.
She wasn't burdened by any worries. Her mind was focused on one thing – reading the magical book she had recently obtained, which seemed to hold incredible secrets. But before diving into her reading, she needed to eat something, as an empty stomach was no friend to concentration. So, she left her room quickly and headed towards the kitchen.
Upon entering, she found her family already there. Her older twin brothers, Aron and Saron, were sitting at the large wooden table, talking loudly as usual. Their mother, Roya, was busy preparing an evening meal in the kitchen. Leni observed her brothers with a hint of amusement – although they were twins, their personalities were as different as day and night.
Aron was a free spirit, always up for fun and flirting. While he wasn't a bad person, he often seemed to take life a little too lightly. Saron, on the other hand, was his complete opposite – a goal-oriented individual who approached everything with determination and precision. He dreamed of becoming a powerful warrior in the future and protecting the village, just like their father. Despite their differences, the brothers got along exceptionally well. Together, they seemed to form a harmonious whole, though their conversations often sounded like playful bickering.
"Good morning, Leni!" the brothers greeted her in unison as she entered the kitchen.
"Morning, guys. You're up early today. What's the occasion?" she asked with a slight smile, grabbing some bread and cheese.
"This dummy woke me up because he decided to take a day off from training and thought it'd be a brilliant idea to spend the day with me," Aron replied, pointing at Saron. "He figured I never do anything anyway, so why not. Absolute idiot!"
"Hey, who are you calling an idiot?" Saron laughed. "At least I didn't oversleep my date with the third girl you've been seeing this year, genius!"
Aron glared at his brother, while Leni couldn't help but giggle.
"Not in front of others! You promised!" Aron exclaimed indignantly. "I told you I was sick yesterday, that's why I overslept. It wasn't my fault!"
"And? Did she dump you?" Saron asked, feigning seriousness.
"Yes," Aron sighed, grimacing slightly.
Leni listened to their conversation, amused. Watching them, one might think they were immature, but the truth was that the brothers were already 27 years old, making them 12 years older than her. Yet, in each other's company, they still acted like children, which always brought a smile to her face.
"Boys, can you lower your voices a bit? Your father had a tough day yesterday and needs his rest," Roya said calmly but firmly, without pausing her cooking.
"Yes, Mom," the brothers replied almost in unison, immediately lowering their voices.
Leni smiled to herself as she finished preparing her sandwiches. Sitting down at the table opposite her brothers, she began eating quickly. There was something amusing about the way she ate – fast, as if her life depended on it. Despite her hearty appetite, her constant energy and activity kept her slim.
"So… you're skipping training today, Saron?" Leni asked through a mouthful of food, trying to speak, though her words were barely comprehensible.
"Yeah, too much is never good. I can't work all the time. Besides, as the Reaper of Serot said..." Saron began with pride in his voice.
"And here we go…" Aron interrupted, rolling his eyes.
"What?! What's your problem, huh?! Can't a guy have idols?!" Saron snapped, slightly embarrassed.
"This is the last time I'm asking you to lower your voices," Roya interjected, this time with a sterner tone. Her gaze was enough to make Saron fall silent, visibly more flustered.
"Sorry," he muttered quietly, lowering his head.
"Everyone knows it's just a legend," Aron said, breaking the silence. "There's no way one warrior could take down thirty garrisons of the Ero kingdom scattered across the vast lands of Serot. It must have been the work of a demigod."
"I… agree," Leni added between bites, already on her third sandwich and eyeing a fourth.
"Ugh, you guys don't get it," Saron sighed, shaking his head. "People always credit mysterious things to demigods. Why would a demigod do anything for the demon race? I'm telling you, it was a demon, and you should show a little more respect. Without the Reaper of Serot, demons would've been wiped out long ago."
"Well, every legend has a grain of truth," Aron replied with a faint smile, shrugging.
At that moment, Leni got up from the table. Still chewing, she moved briskly toward the door.
"Already leaving?" Saron asked, surprised.
"Yeah… need to go for a run…" she lied, eager to get to the spot where she had hidden the magical book.
"Maybe you should race her, Mr. Warrior?" Aron joked, glancing at his brother with a sly grin.
"You race her! I can barely keep up with her as it is, despite years of training. The wind element is definitely on her side," Saron replied, then added with concern, "Leni, swallow your food first, or you might choke."
Leni obeyed, though it took some effort to swallow the large bite. She felt a lump in her throat, and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"You're crazy. Where does all that food go?" Aron asked, astonished.
"Hehe, it goes where it's supposed to for a woman! Anyway, see you later. I'll be back a bit late today," Leni said cheerfully before dashing out of the house, heading straight for the place where her magical book was hidden.
When she reached the spot, she began acting almost without hesitation. With a quick yet precise motion, she unearthed the wooden box hidden beneath the tree for so long. She felt her heart pounding faster, her hands trembling slightly with excitement. Carefully, she opened the lid and retrieved a leather-bound book, handling it as delicately as if it were the most precious treasure. She placed it gently on the grass, which was a rarity in Serot, yet here, beside the tree, it grew in abundance.
"Finally! I can't wait!" she thought joyfully, unable to contain her excitement. She jumped in place a few times, her natural reaction to intense emotions.
"Alright, let's get started!" Leni exclaimed aloud, brimming with enthusiasm. She sat down comfortably and opened the book titled *"Foundations of Magic."*
She began reading with immense excitement, quickly changing positions, unable to stay still. At first, the book lay on the grass while she sat cross-legged, leaning over it. Then, lying on her back, she held it above her head, and later, she leaned against the tree trunk with the book in her hands. Each page captivated her more and more, making time seem to pass much faster than she wished.
In no time, she had read the entire theoretical section. With the book closed on her lap, she stared into the distance, trying to organize the vast amount of information she had just absorbed.
"I've learned so many amazing things!" she said to herself enthusiastically, unable to hide her joy.
She began repeating aloud the parts that fascinated her the most, as if to imprint them in her memory.
"So, magic originated around 50,000 years ago, which is 40,000 years before all the gods perished. Its beginnings trace back to the island of Unum, where humans were the first to use it. Before that, it was an ability exclusive to the gods. The origin of magic is still unclear, but there are theories linking its emergence to the death of one of the gods. This event is said to have released an immense amount of energy, not only enabling magic but also giving rise to the birth of monsters." Her voice trembled with excitement, her smile almost childlike.
Leni couldn't stop thinking about what she had read. Just the thought of magic stirred incredible emotions within her. She jumped for joy, spinning around in delight.
"Every being has a magical core inside them. We're born with varying capacities, but proper training can enhance its potential. Magic draws energy from this core," she repeated aloud, images of people wielding powerful spells forming in her mind.
But as she delved deeper into the topic, she came across information that gave her pause.
"Everyone is born with one of the four basic elements: water, earth, fire, or air—or, in rare cases, with a unique element. There are also extremely rare instances of someone possessing more than one element. Elements influence physical traits—for example, fire boosts instinct, air enhances speed and agility , water aids regeneration, and earth increases strength and resilience.
For someone aligned with a specific element, mastering magic tied to it is much easier and more intuitive. Their magical core seems naturally attuned to the energy of that element, making the learning process smoother and the use of magic almost second nature.
However, it's a different story for someone trying to learn magic of an element they weren't born with. While it's possible to master one of the basic four—water, earth, fire, or air—it requires significantly more effort, time, and determination. Those who take on this challenge must devote years to training to reach a level of proficiency comparable to someone born with that element.
The greatest challenges arise with unique elements, such as lightning, light, or shadow, which are extremely rare and demand immense precision and willpower. For someone not naturally predisposed to one of these rare elements, mastering their magic is nearly impossible. Such individuals must overcome not only the limitations of their magical core but also the nature of the elements themselves, which seem almost unattainable to those who aren't their natural bearers. This is why mages of rare elements are so extraordinary, admired for their abilities, and surrounded by an aura of mystery."
Leni froze for a moment to process everything she had just read.
"So, in my case, I should have an easier time with air magic..." she said quietly, but then lowered her head and sighed with regret. She realized she hadn't yet read the practical section of the book, which detailed how to use magic. But she was afraid of the risks.
"It's not fair... If only I could learn magic without worrying about the consequences..." she muttered, grappling with her thoughts. Her heart raced at the idea of what she could achieve, yet fear of being discovered still held her back.
In the end, her curiosity won.
"Well... what's the harm? No one will find out if I practice here, far from the village!" she said, trying to convince herself. Her voice sounded more confident, though she still felt a twinge of uncertainty.
Determined, she opened the book again, searching for the section describing the first steps in learning magic.
"Alright, got it! 'How to Use Magic'! Perfect! Hahahah!" Leni exclaimed in excitement, flipping through the chapters. "Okay, let's see... 'Element of Water'? No, not interested. I should start with air... 'Element of Fire'? Nope, not that either. Oh, here it is! 'Element of Air!'"
As soon as her eyes landed on the right title, she felt her heartbeat quicken, her hands trembling slightly. Impatience mixed with joyful anticipation filled her. She felt this was a significant moment. She read the first line of the instructions and started trembling with excitement.
"Alright! Let's do this!" she said joyfully to herself, then sat comfortably and carefully read through the text in her mind.
"Using the element of air requires a gentle yet firm approach. To channel magic through your hand, you need to be relaxed and let the energy from your core flow freely. For the first attempt, it's recommended to close your eyes to better sense the energy's movement. The magical core is located in the heart, so focus on it and imagine the energy as blood flowing slowly from the heart, through the arm, to the fingertips. Once you feel a sufficient amount of energy in your fingers, release it with a sudden surge of greater power."
Leni paused to reflect on what she had read, trying to understand it.
"Alright, I get it... I need to treat the energy from my core like blood flowing slowly towards my fingertips. But will I be able to do it? I have to!" she said to herself, trying to boost her confidence.
Full of determination, she stood up, stretched her arm forward, and closed her eyes.
"Alright... I need to stay relaxed. Treat the energy as if it's blood... Slowly, very slowly... right to the very tips of my fingers," she repeated in her mind, focusing entirely on controlling her body.
Over time, her mind stopped overthinking, and her body naturally followed the instructions. After a moment, she felt something extraordinary—a light tingling at her fingertips, as if the energy had indeed gathered there. Her heart raced, and a smile lit up her face. "This must be it!" she thought, her excitement almost overwhelming.
Now came the next step. She had to focus on the flow of energy again, but this time much faster and more intensely. She clenched her eyes shut even tighter, took a deep breath, and concentrated all her will on releasing the energy she had gathered.
Suddenly, she felt a small tingling sensation, and a gentle breeze shot out from the two fingers of her outstretched hand. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but to her, it was a triumph.
"Did it work?! Yes! That was it! I can use magic!!!" she screamed, jumping with joy. She laughed loudly, spinning in circles, nearly crying from happiness. "Yes! Hahahah! I'm amazing! On the first try! I must be really talented!"
She struck a confident pose, hands on her hips, her expression full of pride, as if declaring to the world she had achieved something incredible. However, her triumph was soon interrupted by a troubling thought.
"It's better if no one finds out about this..." she whispered, a chill running down her spine. "I don't even want to imagine what could happen if someone discovered I was using magic."
She glanced at the ocean near her hiding spot. The water sparkled in the light of the setting sun, now almost entirely below the horizon.
"The sun is already setting?! It felt like much less time had passed!" she exclaimed, realizing she needed to hurry.
She quickly closed the book, carefully placed it back into the wooden box, and buried it in the same spot, making sure everything looked undisturbed.
"I need to get home! I don't want Mom and my sister to worry. Tomorrow I'll have the whole day to practice! Hehe," she said to herself with a wide smile, then ran towards the village as fast as she could.